Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (AP,) cancelled the licenses of all the bars in Andhra Pradesh (AP.) The step was taken to achieve the agenda of completely banning alcohol in the State.
On the 22nd of November, Jagan Mohan Reddy issued an order to cancel the licenses and also announced all the bars would remain closed until the 31st of December 2019.
The Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) issued a government order (GO) for the same. The AP Government also announced a new bar policy which would help reduce the number of bars in the State by 40 %.
According to the new policy, bars will remain open till 8:00 P.M., and the licenses of the owners would be renewed again after an initial payment of Rs. 10 lakhs through a lottery process.
Bars under the jurisdiction of the State Government are allowed to remain open till 10:00 P.M.
Another decision taken by the Government to establish an alcohol free State was increasing alcohol prices across Andhra Pradesh (AP.)
The new policy is expected to come into effect on the 1st of January 2020.
Stay tuned for further updates.